Event Recap: THC Fair Anchorage

More than 1,000 attendees flocked to the Anchorage Sheraton hotel last month to experience the second annual THC Fair and get a glimpse into the hidden world of weed culture. A celebration of everything Cannabis, the Fair had dozens of vendors covering every aspect of the up and coming industry. New and veteran recreational Cannabis companies made up a bulk of the show, with dispensaries, producers and processors showing off and talking about their products. There was a great selection of glass and smoking products, cool clothes and accessories, raffles for plants and pipes and hard to find options such as genetics from the powerhouse Seeds Here Now. The event was a major success, and helped reaffirm why the show is pushing its geographic boundaries into Alaska.

“It was a really good show. The vendors we had here were really fantastic,” said THC Director Naomi Forkash.

“Most fun for me is meeting the locals, and seeing people come in and be excited to talk about CBD in an open way, and learn about the new ways to grow and consume it and the legalities. Next year we are definitely going to come back to Anchorage earlier in the year, and we are really excited to come back next year!”

Another big seller at the show this year was CBD products, ranging from cartridges to topicals and all sorts of edible treats. We saw the Releaf Alaska booth slammed for most the weekend, helping people get authorized as patients on site with a doctor, and offering a variety of CBD options for people to purchase.

Other booths chose to focus on handing out information and networking, which was easy to do in a ballroom that hummed with conversation for the whole weekend. For guests coming in and out, the chance to see something new was a big draw.

“I flew in from Florida and really wanted to see a dispensary, and when I saw a flyer for this I had to come by,” said Tyler B., a 23-year-old tourist on a family trip. “It’s really exciting to see and learn about legal pot. We need it at home, but we are still waiting on counties and politics for medical to get started.”

For local attendees, the chance to meet a grower or connect with a dispensary where they get their products from was a big hit. Several booths had smelling jars set up, so consumers could sniff and look at the beautiful Cannabis available at a nearby dispensary. Although consumption wasn’t allowed, it didn’t hinder the enthusiasm felt by vendors and attendees alike. Many left the venue heading to their local shop to try out a new strain or edible.

“I can’t wait to go hit a few stores now,” said Cheryl Desmound, who was traveling from the lower 48. “I thought you could only infuse pot into butter, so learning about the different edibles was a new experience.”

Topics for speakers included extraction, edible use and potency, legal regulations and the future of the industry, which rounded out the show as a true coming together of everything Cannabis.

With a positive vibe and a friendly environment, the THC Fair showed Alaska is hungry for pot, and the budding industry behind it.

Check out THCFair.com for more information about upcoming shows, including Las Vegas in September.